"Multiple sclerosis: Therapeutic approach with STEM cells"

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disorder of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Genetic and environmental factors play a key role in the pathogenesis of MS by activating the immune response causing inflammation. The immune system destroys gradually its own axes of the bone marrow in the CNS, in cases lasting from a few months to several years. Possible demyelination and degeneration of the nervous system can cause severe and debilitating kinetic, aesthetic, balance and cognitive difficulties, disability, serious complications and negative effects to the quality of life. The available treatments today can slow the progress of the disease but not completely cure it. Available treatments include steroids against temporary disease manifestation, medications that modify the disease and medications targeting specific symptoms. While these can reduce the frequency of exacerbations and the slow progression of the disease, no medication can regenerate nerves or remyelination ability in order to repair the cumulative damage that already exists.

Many options of treatments have been studied to prevent patients with MS from recurrent relapse. The oldest and most common used medication for MS is the interferon beta either used standalone or as part of an adjunctive therapy together with other drugs. Injectable treatments consist of monoclonal antibodies and immunosuppressive drugs have also been studied. Recent research has shown that cell therapies have the potential to repair the CNS and may provide protection against inflammatory damage caused by injuries. Stem cells play an important role in demyelination and help in the prevention of axes demyelination. The basic idea behind this treatment consist of two parts. Firstly, the collection of blood cells of the patient, immunosuppression by chemotherapy and re-injection of stem cells in patients in order to regenerate the immune system. Secondly, the replacement of oligodendrocytes or myelin loss by transplantation of ancestral appears now to be able to be cured by stem cell therapy.

VERIKIOU Mathakoula